In a culture that constantly tries to convince us we need more, the Bible constantly reminds us that God provides for all our needs. Sometimes that provision comes in common ways through employment or family, and sometimes it comes through miraculous ways. God’s provision for His people in the wilderness is a beautiful picture of the lengths God will go to provide for his children.
How often do we stop to take in the miracle of God’s creation? In His infinite power, God has created an extraordinary, intricate universe out of nothing, nearly incomprehensible in its size and complexity. And yet, God also knows each one of us deeply and personally, caring for our every thought, emotion and need. In a world of distractions all competing for our attention and worship, we lift our eyes up to God who is the only one worthy of all our praise.
God’s blessings often come through simple acts of obedience rather than grand displays. In the story of Naaman, it wasn’t the wealth he brought that moved God, but his willingness to follow God’s command. Many of us can relate, recalling how God has used people or circumstances to draw us closer to Him. Ultimately, what matters most is not what we possess, but whether our hearts truly belong to God.
Forgiveness is an incredible act of our loving and merciful God. As Moses led God’s chosen people through the wilderness, their restlessness turned quickly into sin. But when Moses went to God on their behalf and asked for mercy, God’s loving kindness was revealed through an act of forgiveness - a foreshadowing of the ultimate forgiveness He would one day provide through the sacrifice of His Son.
The story of David and Bathsheba reminds us that everyone can fall into temptation. The more we try to cover up our sin, the more destructive it becomes. But when we confess our sin and recognize our need for a Savior, God’s grace and mercy meets us through the forgiveness we receive when we’re in Christ. The first step is agreeing with God and, through His power, turning away from sin.
God’s holiness is a reflection of His perfect nature. He is the creator and sustainer of all things, eternal, all-powerful and perfectly good in all of His ways. In His holiness, God also calls His people to be set apart as holy - not because of our goodness, but as an act of worship in recognizing His goodness and love toward us.
The Lord’s Supper - or communion - is a sacrament given to the church by Jesus himself for the purposes of remembering his sacrifice and the new covenant his death and resurrection established. 2,000 years later, this regular rhythm of remembrance is an important moment for the gathered church family to look back to remember what Christ has done, look inward to examine our hearts, and look forward to what Christ will do when he returns.
Are we willing to follow some cultural norms for the sake of gaining the opportunity to share the hope of the Gospel with others? The Apostle Paul reminds the church that the way in which Christians interact with one another can communicate many things to the culture around us. He also reminds us of how God’s design for marriage relationships can also point people to Jesus.
What’s the true purpose of the freedom we have in Christ? Having been set free from sin by Jesus’ sacrifice for us, we have many options for how we can spend our time and energy. The Apostle Paul reminds Christ followers that the purpose of our freedom is not for selfish pursuits, but is instead for the purpose of loving and serving others.
Following Jesus isn’t just about church attendance or saying and doing the right things on the outside. Being fully devoted to Jesus is a posture of our heart, soul and mind. The Apostle Paul gives a warning against simply going through the motions of faith without letting it actually transform your heart. The world will present plenty of temptations to pull us away from following Jesus. Are you devoted to him with your whole heart?
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The word advent means "arrival" or "coming," and for the Christian, the advent season is marked by both remembrance and anticipation. This year we'll be examining the life of John the Baptist - a man who's calling perfectly reflects the idea of advent. Even before he was born, John was chosen by God to prepare the way for His promised Messiah, the Savior of the world.
Where did we come from? Why are we here? Why is the world the way that it is? Sometimes to understand the big picture, we have to go back to the beginning. Genesis provides big answers to big questions as it tells the story of who God is and His plan for the world.
Our faith isn't meant to be hidden away inside us. Jesus' command to 'go and make disciples' means we have a responsibility to pass along what we know as we live our faith out in everyday life. As we grow in faith, God will use us to encourage others toward a faith in Jesus, and model what a relationship with Him looks like. 2 Timothy is the Apostle Paul's faithful encouragement to Timothy to 'walk this way'.
The world constantly challenges us with claims of truth, but truth is not subjective. The letters of John will show us how the truth of Jesus can set us free from a world trapped in darkness, so we can walk in the light as children of God.
From messages about being involved in a church family to messages about mothers, fathers and more, this is the place to find all of our sermons that aren't a part of a regular series.
The book of Ephesians is a letter from the Apostle Paul that explains how we've been made new through Jesus Christ, and encourages us to live out our new life in all we do - from our jobs to our marriages, families and more. We've been made worthy to walk worthy.
We are blessed to be able to welcome guest speakers on occasion who visit Highlands to present Bible-based messages that inspire us and challenge us to grow our faith.
